Generation of electrical impulses controlled by a perforated carrier



Oct. 15, 1957 u. BALDE" GENERATION OF ELECTRICAL IMPULSES CONTROLLED BYA PERFORATED CARRIER" Filed Sept. 21, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ocf. 15,1957 u. BALDE 2,809,785 GENERATION o LECTRICAL IMPUL CONTROLLED 1 BY ARFORATED' CARRIE Filed Sept. 21, 1954 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2,809,785Patented Oct. 15, 1957 ice GENERATION OF ELECTRICAL IMPULSES CON-TROLLED BY A PERFORATED CARRIER Ulysse Bald, Zurich, Switzerland,assignor to Mithra A.-G., Zurich, Switzerland Application September 21,1954, Serial No. 457,456

Claims priority, application Switzerland June 23, 1954 14 Claims.((1235-6111) The present invention relates to a device for thegeneration of electric impulses, for example for the automatic controlof calculating machines, machine tools, shaft machines on looms etc. Forthe generation of the electric control impulses as a rule electriccontacts are opened and closed, for example in dependence of a rotatingcommutator, a punched tape, a magnetic tape'etc. which runs over thecircumference of a cylinder where the sensing of the tape is carriedout.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for thegenerating of electric impulses in controlled dependence of a perforatedcarried of the type known as punched card. i

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the kindreferred to wherein any friction of brushesor any pressure of sensingpins on the said perforated carrier is obviated in order to eliminatethe consequent wear and tear thereof and to make its availability foruse practically indefinitely long.

it is yet another object of the invention to provide a device of thekind referred to wherein mechanically operated electrical contacts orcommutators are obviated whereby the inavoidable wear and tear and theservicing consequently required thereof is eliminated,

With these and other objects in view, I provide a device for thegeneration of electric impulses in controlled dependenceof a perforatedcarrier, comprising in combination: a rotatable hollow cylinder having acylindrical wall, clamping means attaching the perforated carrierdetachably to the circumference of the said hollow cylinder, the saidhollow cylinder being provided with apertures corresponding in numberand disposition to the 1 possible places of. perforation of the. saidcarrier, at

those apertures of the said cylinder which are disposed along ageneratrix thereof, light-compartments separated from one another andeach containing one of the said 1 photo-electric converters, the saidsource of light and the said photo-electric converters being separatedfrom one another by the cylindrical apertured wall of the said hollowcylinder.

These and other objects and features of my said in-- Fig. 8 shows apunched card adapted for being clamped to the hollow cylinder, inelevation, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an auxiliary device for thejfixing of acard to the circumference of a hollow cylinder. 7

Accordingto Figs. 1 to 3, the device has a supporting structure whichconsists of a base plate 101 and two vertically positioned plates 102and 103 screwed thereto. In one of the vertical plates, 102, astationary hub 104 is fixed with a horizontal axis. On this hub, bymeans of a ball bearing 105 and of a roller bearing 106, a ring 107 isjournalled rotatably, which is provided on its circumference with atoothing 108. With the latter a gear wheel. (not shown) can be broughtinto mesh for driving the ring 107. To the two end faces of the ring,lids 109 and 110 are screwed fixedly which enclose the anti-frictionbearings 105 and 106, and protect the grease or oil serving for thelubrication of these bearings from being lost. On the ring 107 a furtherring 111 isfixedly mounted which has a flange 112 projecting outwardlyin order to prevent the lubricant to get from the toothing 168 to theright hand side in Fig. l.

On the end, which in Fig. 1. is on the righthand side,

a casing 113 is provided which consists of an integral piece of materialwith the said hub. In the interior of the casing 113 severalincandescent bulbs 114 are fixed on .an insulating body 115, which isprovided with means for the electrical connection of the lamps 114. The

electrical supply conductors 116 pass through an axial passage 117 ofthe hub and emerge through a radial On the insulating body 115 two re-'opening thereof. flector shields 118 are mounted which reflect the lightof the lamps 114 upwardly. The casing 113forms a screwed, and anotherend piece 123 is pushed on detachably. For the attachment of the lastmentioned end piece screws 124 are provided. The end piece 122 isaccording to Figs. 1 and 5, provided with three dogs 125 projectinginwardly between which recesses are left. The aforesaid lid 110, whichis attached on the rotatable ring 104, has three dogs 126 of unequalwidth which project radially outward, and can engage between the dogs125 of, the end piece 122 of the cylinder. The dogs 125 and 126 formpart of a so-called bayonet joint which permits the detachableattachment of the cylinder 121 on the ring 107. The dogs 125 and 126 canbe brought into engagement with one another by an axial movement of thehollow cylinder 121, whereafter the cylinder with its end piece 122 isturned relative to the ring and its lid 110 about the axis of rotationof these components. Then the dogs 125reach behind the dogs 126. Theinner edge vention will be clearly understood from the followingdetailed description of an embodiment thereof given by Fig. 5 shows thehollow cylinder detached, with the end pieces fixed thereto, inend-elevation, v

Fig. 6 shows part of the hollow cylinder with a punched card clampedthereto, in cross section,

Fig. 7 shows an analogous cross section through an other part of thecylinder,

of the dogs 125 provided on the end piece 1220f the cylinder finds asuitable seat on a cylindrical face 127 of the lid in such a manner thatthe cylinder 121 comes to lie coaxially to the rotatable ring 107. Thering 107 and the lid 110 fixed thereto form between themselves arotatable holder for the hollow cylinder 121, in order that the lattermay be supported, rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The cylinder121 is then held at one of its ends only.

Into the ring 107 on the whole three bores are machined parallel to theaxis of rotation, in each of which i a cylindrical plunger 128 and aball 129 is mounted shiftemf 8,5

),in which one ball 129-rests under the action of the" associated spring139, when the end piece 122 ofthe, cylinder has been brought into theappropriate closure position. Thereby any undesirable detaching of thecom screwed on tothe hub 104; and'whi'eh serves at the-same time forrestraining the-same against axial displacement in onedirection;"'The'coolingair can-escape through-the perforated'tend plate120 of' the casing-113 and through holes 135 in thebottom of the endpiece 1230f the cylinder; 7 The coolingair the-hollow Cylinder 121';

On'th'e 'cir'cumference-of-the hollow cylinder 121a punched'card ;136-of'conventionaltype is clamped. T he" card} l3'6 ha's therectangle'shape shown in Fig, 8; The tw'olongitudinal'edges of'the cardrun in the circumferential direction of the hollow cylinder 121 and areoverlapped by the margins12 7 of the two end pieces 122 and 1233'Inforder toexchange the card-136,the endpiece 123iis detached-fromthejholl'ow cylinder. In order to securei'further the positionof thecard.136 on the cylinder 12'1I'the cylinder is'pfovided with two pins 138(Fig.- 7)

projecting radially outward, which are capable of en-. gagingfint'otwocorresponding holes 139 of the card. The two edges onthe short-sidesof the card are pressed accordingtoFig. 6 intoa longitudinal groove 139of the cylinder 121', namely by means of an auxiliary device 1 40,whichis shown per se in Fig. 9. The middle portion of runner/ice, which-is;of U-"sh'aped profile, is pressed; into the groove -'13 9 ,'while'theend lugs 141 come to lie under the margins 137 of ;the end pieces 122and 123;

Accordingi'to Fig. 8, the card 136 used is divided into two horizontallyrunning halves. In each half, holes;

maybe "arranged in total of. 6X90 holes.-

withlongitudinal grooves 142, the number and positio n ofwhich conformswith the columns 1 to 45, and 26 to 90,

respectively,of the card 137 clamped on. Moreover the outercircumference ofthe cylinder wall is provided with number and positioncircumferential grooves 143; the

of which correspondswith the lines, numbering twelve forty "five columnsand six line s a "The 23rd and the 68th column I however, are not capable of being: used in the present em bodimen't, since the're'theattachment holes 139 are,arranged. Accordingly 88" columns only areusable. The, wallbf'thehollbW cylinder 121 is provided onits insidepasses through the interior of n as" a wholeof the card'137, Thelongitudinal and cir;

curhferenti'al grooves 142 and 143, respeetively, are sol I to oneanother and that square apertures are formed in the hollow cylinderatthe These: apertures are located on those f points,'whe 'ref the card137 clamped on may have. holes; 1030f the supporting structure, the.

deep that they make transition in crossing points on the -pl'ate aid oftwo holder bolts 145 a block 146 is fixed, which extehds 'frorrftlieou'tef'end of the upto the circumference thereof, and

circumference.thereof, asclearlyshown in Figsal and 3;

5? P s 4 rm -f 9 s al p a e ra fi d;

cylinder 121' "closely I to the punched card 137-clarnped'thereon.Thefb'lock 146 extends over the; whole lengthof the cylinder 121' andover a part of the 4 side by side, which are held together by holderpins 145. Above the block 146, a body 148 is fixed, which consists ofelastically resilient material, e. g. of sponge rubber, and which hastwelve holes, each for taking in a photo-electric converter 149, e. g. aphoto-electric cell. These photo-electric cells arearranged in threerows parallel to the axis of rotation of the cylinder 121, and are inechelon configuration with respect to one anothenyas clearly. showninFig. 2. Intothe block 146 several recesses 150 are, machined whichiorrnlight-passages. sep-- arated from one another, each o f which joins upwith one of the photo-electric cells 149. These recesses 150 aremachined each" intoone of-the p1ates' 1'47' forming the block 146. Theorificesofthelight-passages 150,-facing away from the photo-electriccells lie all in a row parallel to the axis ofrotation of the cylinder121, namely opposite to the slot 119 of the casing 113 surrounding thelamps 114, and opposite to the 2 6rrows of the punched card 137= clampedon. Starting from these orifices, the light-passages flare out towardsthe photoelectric cells. On'the-block 146 moreover two insulatingplates-151are screwed-fast, which are provided with contact pieces 152,on -whichthe-electrical conductors 153 arehconnected-which-lead to thephoto-electric cells 149. InlFig, 2 these-conductors have beenomitted,and in Fig- 3 are shown but partly, for-clarity.

On the side of the cylinder 121 facing away from the block .146-a guidepiece 154'is fixed on the plate 101 of the supporting structure.- Thisguide piece 154, together with the block 146, facilitates thecorrectinsertion of the hollow cylinder in relation to the rotary holder 107,110. Ofcourseneitherthe-block 146 nor the guide piece'154 contacts-thecircumference of thecylinder 121 or the card.:clamped.thereon,respectively, as soon'as the cylinder is fixed. to therotatable holder107, 110.

Oventhe upper portion of theblock 146 a hood (not shown) is detachablyplaced, .which prevents the access ofglight from-the enviro nment -tothephoto-electric cells 1491 The. manner -of.iuse :and. of operation of thedevice describ'ed isas follows: thelamps 114emit light through the slot119 towards the inside ofthe hollow cylinder 121 andthrough theapertures. thereof which are-at any time situated over. the slot 119.On-places, where the punched card.136..clampedon is perforated, lightcan pass through the card andycanfa-ll on theassociated photo-electriccells, 149. In thelatten thereby a potentialv difference is setup,-Which.can be amplified and-can be used. for the electromagneticcontrol ofany-machines, relays etc. On those places wherethe punchedcard is not perforated,

no light can fall .onto the associated photo-electric cells.

The photo-electric cellsiare.accordingly energised in accordance' withthe holes present'at. anytime .in=a column ofthe card 136..

Whenthe card 136 is divided-according to Fig. 8 into two halves, each-of44Iusable columns, i. e.- into a total 01 88 usable. columns of .sixrowseach, a total of 88 control impulses can bederived from the card, in tworevolutions of the cylinder 121. At the. first revolution of thecylinder 121 only those current impulses are evaluated which aregenerated. by the holes in the upper half 'ofthe. card, and at thesecondrevolution only those current impulses, which are-generated'by -the'holes in the lower half of the card. Each of these control impulses can bemarked by one to six holes in the card. With one hole per columnthere-result six'different control possibilities, with two holes percolumn, fifteen differentcombinations, with four holes six ,of them,with five holes three of them, and .with six holespne only, On t e hole;d n l q t nea t entfl m mpulses "can be recorded in one column.

Alternatively, the punched, card can be divided into three zones runninghorizontally, each of which contains.

44 columns of four rows.

I g In this case in each column there result fifteen ditferent controlimpulses After three,

consecutive revolutions of the hollow cylinderilil, in each The controlimpulses then repeat themselves after each revolution of the hollowcylinder.

Of course the. device is not limited to the cards described by way ofexample, but could be arranged for the use of cards having a differentnumber of lines and columns. I I p The apertures of the hollow cylindercoordinated to the possible holes of the cards need not be formed by intersecting longitudinal and circumferential grooves in the cylinderwall. It is also possible to produce the cylinder in a casting processin such a manner that the apertures are left free from the beginning onthe right spots. The hollow cylinder could alternatively be stamped outof flat sheet material, and subsequently bent into the cylindricalshape.

Moreover other embodiments are conceivable,in which instead of the lamps114 a single rod-shaped lamp is used as a source of light. Moreover atleast one source of light could be arranged outside the hollow cylinder,and, in turn, the photo-electric converters in the interior of thehollow cylinder.

For each device, several hollow cylinders 121, each with its associatedend pieces 122 and 123, could be used, and on each cylinder adifferently perforated card 136 could be clamped. In this case it ispossible, to exchange the cards together with the hollow cylinderscarrying the same quickly, when a different sequence of impulses isintended to be generated for the purpose of automatically controlling adifferent sequence of movements.

The advantage of the device consists in that the cards are not worn outduring use in any way, and accordingly remain available for usepractically indefinitely.

The possibilities of application of the device described are practicallyunlimited. In calculating machines for example the device can be used inorder to control in succession the various calculation operationsdesired, such as for example addition, subtraction, multiplication,division, raising to a power, drawing roots, rounding up or roundingdown, etc. moreover for storing intermediate results temporarily in amechanical electrical memory (recording), for recalling suchintermediate results at a certain moment again from the memory and forusing them for the further calculation, or for passing intermediate andfinal results on to another punched card machine, for example forpunching the same into a card or tape, etc.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the machine can emit aseries of electrical impulses, and then indefinitely repeat again thesame series of impulses.

While I have herein described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings what may be considered a typical and particularly advantageousembodiment of my said invention, I wish it to be understood that I donot limit myself to the particular details and dimensions described andillustrated, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled inthe art.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for the generation of electric impulses in controlleddependence of a perforated carrier, comprising in combination: arotatable hollow cylinder having a cylindrical wall, clamping meansattaching the perforated carrier detachably to the circumference of thesaid hollow cylinder to successively produce a desired number ofirnpulse series, the said hollow cylinder being provided with aperturescorresponding in number and disposition to the possible places ofperforation of the said carrier, at least one stationary source of lightand a plurality of stationary photo-electric converters in juxtapositionto those apertures of the said cylinder which are disposed along ageneratrix thereof, light-compartments separated from one another andeachcontaining' one of the said photo-electric converters, the saidsource of light and the said photo electric converters being separatedfrom one another by the cylindrical apertured wall of the said hollowcylinder.

-2. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising in addition: a stationarydiaphragm inteiposed between the said source of light and the saidhollow cylinder and having a slot running along a generatrix of the saidcylinder.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said light source isarranged in the interior of the said hollow cylinder, and comprising inaddition: a stationary cylindrical diaphragmIarranged between the saidsource of light and the inner wall surface of the said hollow cylinderand having a slot running along a generatrix of the said cylinder.

and over part of the circumference thereof, recesses being provided inthe said block forming the said light-compartments.

5. ,A-devicegas claimed in claim '4, wherein the said blockcomprisesseveral platesstratified side by side, each of the said plates havingone of the said recesses forming the said light-compartments.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4, comprising in addition: anelastically yieldable body attached to the said block, the said bodybeing provided with recesses in which the said photo-electric convertersare inserted.

7. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said recesses flare outfrom their ends adjacent to the said hollow cylinder towards the saidphoto-electric converters.

8. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said block and the saidphoto-electric converters arranged in the recesses thereof are arrangedoutside the said hollowcylinder.

9. A device for the generation of electric impulses in controlleddependence of a perforated carrier, comprising in combination: astationary supporting structure, a holder rotatably mounted on the saidstructure, a hollow cylinder having a cylindrical wall and detachablymounted cantilever-fashion on the said holder adapted to be fittedthereto and withdrawn therefrom in the axial direction, clamping meansattaching the said perforated carrier detachably to the circumference ofthe said hollow cylinder, the said hollow cylinder being provided withapertures corresponding in number and disposition to the possible placesof perforation of the said carrier, at least one stationary source oflight and a plurality of stationary photoelectric converters injuxtaposition to those apertures of the said cylinder which are disposedalong a generatrix thereof, light compartments separated from oneanother and each containing one of the said photo-electric converters,the said source of light and the said photo-electric converters beingseparated from one another by the cylindrical apertured wall of the saidhollow cylinder.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, comprising in addition: a stationaryhub fixed to the said supporting structure and journalling the saidrotatable holder, the said hub being provided with at least onelongitudinal passage for the blowing of cooling air and for passing theelectrical supply to the said source of light.

11. A device as claimed in claim 9, comprising in addition: an end pieceattached to the said rotatable holder, and an end piece attached to thesaid hollow cylinder, the said end pieces forming together thecooperating parts of a bayonet joint, being adapted to be pushed firstlyaxially into one another and then turned relative to one another into amutually interengaging position.

12. A device as claimedin claim 10, comprising in addition: spring meansbiasing the said rotatable holder and the said hollow cylinder axiallytowards one another into engagement of their end'portions forming thesaid bayonet joint, a recess being provided on the end face of the saidend piece of the said hollow cylinder adapted torallowzpart of the.saidspripg means: to rest itselfi-into.

s51 3A.:deviee forgn-the generation of welectric n impulses incontrolled.adependence of 1 a; perforated sfiarrieli, oomprising {ins-combination:2; a: rotatable. ihollow cylinder, havinglzrau'eylindrical 'wall, 26ndpieces nattachedrto ;thesaid cylinder. overlapping the. long; edges: :of;the- .,said= carrier in ithe;eircumferentialxdirectionjofrthesaidhoylinder, :one of ztherasaidnendtipieoesmheing .detaehahlmfrom'thehsaid hollow cylinderi 011,616. purposezofexchangingEthersaidperforatedscarrier, ,thessa'id :ho11ow::cylinder-: being-lprovidedcwithaperturescorresponding .inznumherand dispositioni tothenpossible plaeesiof. perforationz-of the saidxcarrier, atl leastronestationary sourceof rlight-and;a:.plurality of stationary-ph'oto-eleetricaconverters .in izjux tapositiont to thoseapertumsof-the said vcylindernwhieh are .JdiSPDSBd along a generatrixthereof, light compartments separated from oneraanothenl and each:containingonevofthe said photo-electric:usonverters, the said source oflight and the said photo-telectric converters beingseparated from oneanother =by the cylindri'cal-apertured wall of the said hollow cylinder.I

1-4. A* device for-"the "generation of -electric-=impulses in controlleddependence ofa=perforated carrier, comprisingim .con binationzaaotatableahollow. qeylinder ;having a oylindrical wvall and provided-1with :circumferent-ial grooves on ,onen ssurgfacevand' longitudinal,-groo.ves;on the other surface of itsaeylindrical wall, .the; saidggIOOYCS bein g :deep. enough 91o: rmakeireransitionz :intosone.l-anoth/er and :to format;theirgpointsaofrintersectiomaperturescorrespondingxin numbera-nd: disposition to :the possible places ofperforation of the said ,earrier clarnping-meansattach-.

vertersrheing zseparateddirommne anoth'er r byithe rsaidaperturedcylindrical walltofvthezsaidzhollow cylinder.

:RefereneeslCitedQin:thefifile oi thiszpatent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,224,765 IDiickinsoD .et Ial. .De.c. K10, 1940,

